The Production Structure of Pennsylvania Dairy Farms
- 1 October 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Vol. 13 (2) , 245-253
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0899367x0000057x
Abstract
The production structure of a selected cross-section sample of family owner-operated dairy farms is investigated using a translog variable cost function. Elasticities of scale, input substitution, and input own- and cross-price elasticities are estimated. At the sample mean herd size of 67 cows producing at 15,173 pounds of milk per cow, the elasticity of scale parameter was 1.00, implying constant returns to scale. The elasticities of substitution between feeds and hired labor and the own- and cross-price elasticities were inelastic.Keywords
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